2009 Supercross Photos

See the latest photos from the 2009 AMA Supercross season. Check out our 2009 AMA Supercross coverage on the Supercross Page.

Chad Reed had three wins and 12 runner-up finishes in the 2009 Supercross season.

'I love the rivalry that we have going on, and there's a lot of fuel in the fire.' James Steward, opening round in Anaheim.

At Phoenix, Reed posted the first of seven consecutive runner-up finishes, and after the race at Atlanta Feb. 21 he was 3 points out the lead - 2009 Supercross season.

Reed made his first visit to the top step of the podium when the series moved to the new Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis Feb. 28. The Tampa, Fla., resident took the lead at the start, relinquished it to Stewart on lap 14, and regained it on lap 16. The 2.1-second victory left the rivals deadlocked in the standings with eight rounds to go.

Another Reed win the next week at Daytona Beach, Fla., followed by a second at New Orleans and his third win in four weeks at St. Louis March 21 and a second in Toronto March 28 left Reed 8 points ahead heading into the final four races.

A rivalry that had been fairly low-key flared in Jacksonville, where Reed finished second to Stewart after a confrontation between the two in practice and what Reed considered a dangerous mid-air pass by Stewart over a triple jump.

The Australian star was also battling an undisclosed illness that may have been a major factor in Reed's 7th place finish and fall to second in the standings at Seattle after being accidentally hit and knocked down by another rider on the opening lap.

Ryan Villopoto took the lead at Las Vegas for good on lap 3, with Stewart second and Reed third.

On lap 12 of Salt Lake City, as Stewart and Reed were lapping Kyle Chisholm, Stewart's teammate failed to give race leader Reed room to pass and then ran into his rear wheel.

Chad Reed lost his bid for a third series championship to James Stewart by 4 points, but left no doubt that he'll be one of the riders to beat for some time to come.

A win at Salt Lake City would have left the leaders tied in points going into the final Saturday. Instead, Reed trailed by six and knew that in all likelihood his hopes depended on winning the race and having Stewart finish no better than fourth.

Villopoto struggled with illness and inconsistency during his rookie season, but finished extremely well to insure himself of contender status in the future.

Pourcel had five wins and never finished out of the top five in eight starts to win the title by 33 points over Pro Circuit mate Austin Stroupe.

Villopoto, a Poulsbo, Wash., resident, made his return with one of those storybook moments, getting his first main event win before a hometown crowd at Seattle.

Jake Weimer came up 5 points shy of the West title, but had three wins and was in the top five in all eight races.

Ryan Morais had five runner-up finishes in West Coast Lites to take third.

Josh Hill, a Yoncalla, Ore., native, raced the majority of the season at less than 100 percent. A podium finish in Toronto and a strong fourth-place run in Jacksonville brought late-season promise, but a practice crash just before Seattle forced him to sit out the final three races.

Christophe Pourcel of France won three of the first four East races and clinched the title with one event remaining by winning at Toronto, and then won the finale at Jacksonville, Fla.

Ben Townley

Supercross lead pack - San Francisco

Jake Weimer - San Francisco

Jake Weimer - San Francisco

Chad Reed and Mike Alessi - San Francisco

James Stewart - San Francisco

James Stewart - Anaheim 3

Mike Alessi - Anaheim 3

Josh Grant - Anaheim 3

Chad Reed - Anaheim 3

Josh Grant, Andrew Short, Mike Alessi - San Diego

Jake Weimer - San Diego

Chad Reed - San Diego

Supercross Pack - Atlanta

First Corner Lites - Atlanta

Chad Reed - Atlanta

Christophe Pourcel - Atlanta

Lites Podium - Indianapolis

Supercross Pack - Indianapolis

Nico Izzi - Indianapolis

Jason Lawrence - Indianapolis

James Stewart - Indianapolis

Austin Stroupe - Daytona

James Stewart - Daytona

James Stewart Crash - Daytona

Chad Reed - Daytona

Michael Byrne - Daytona

Jason Lawrence - Daytona

Lites Podium - Daytona

Supercross Podium - Daytona

James Stewart - New Orleans

Supercross Podium - New Orleans

Austin Stroupe - New Orleans

Christophe Pourcel - New Orleans

Travis Pastrana - St. Louis

Chad Reed - St. Louis

Josh Grant - St. Louis

Supercross lites race - St. Louis

Christophe Pourcel adds his name to the wall of Kawsaki winners - AMA Supercross Toronto

Stewart takes another win - AMA Supercross Toronto

Christophe Pourcel - AMA Supercross Toronto

Josh Grant - AMA Supercross Toronto

Supercross Class Podium - AMA Supercross Toronto

James Stewart and Chad Reed clearly don't see eye to eye on what happened during the race. - 2009 AMA Supercross - Jacksonville

Stewart caught up and made the pass to take the lead. - 2009 AMA Supercross - Jacksonville

Ivan Tedesco works his way in to the top-5 in points - 2009 AMA Supercross - Jacksonville